TSTA/NEA endorse Colin Allred for Senate

​The Texas State Teachers Association and its national affiliate, the National Education Association, have endorsed Democratic nominee Colin Allred over incumbent Ted Cruz in the U.S. Senate race in Texas, TSTA President Ovidia Molina and NEA President Becky Pringle announced today. “Public education is in Colin Allred’s DNA. His mother was a public school teacher who instilled in her son the importance of public schools and taught him to respect the hard work and dedication of the people who work in them. Education has been one of Allred’s top priorities during his time in Congress, and we are confident it will remain so as a senator,” Molina said. “Ted Cruz, on the other hand, has spent most of his time in the Senate trying to divide his constituents, promoting Donald Trump’s intolerant, authoritarian agenda and ignoring our public schools. The main interest Cruz has shown in public education during almost two terms in the Senate has been how to privatize it with a national program of school vouchers,” Molina added. Pringle called Allred “a proven champion for America’s students and Texas’ working families.” “Allred knows how critical it is to ensure that every student – no matter their race, place or background – has access to quality public schools,” the NEA president said. “In a time when some extreme politicians are focused on banning books and taking away learning opportunities for students, Colin Allred has partnered with parents and educators to ensure students can get the one-on-one support they need, keep students and educators safe from gun violence, expand school-based mental health programs and address educator shortages. In the Senate, Colin Allred will continue helping level the playing field for working families.” Molina praised Allred for his efforts at bipartisanship “in a Congress where that is very difficult to accomplish.” “He worked with Texas’ other senator, Republican John Cornyn, to pass the first meaningful gun safety legislation in almost 30 years. Ted Cruz voted against that bill, as he has other sensible gun safety measures. Unlike Cruz, Allred will work to keep our educators, students and their communities safe,” she said.